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 Interactive map of Playwrights Horizons | |
| Address | 416 West 42nd Street Manhattan,New York City United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Playwrights Horizon, Inc. |
| Type | Off-Broadway |
| Capacity | Mainstage: 198 Peter Jay Sharp: 128 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Playwrights Horizons is anot-for-profit AmericanOff-Broadway theater located inNew York City dedicated to the support and development of contemporary Americanplaywrights,composers, andlyricists, and to the production of their new work.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Adam Greenfield[1][2] and Managing Director Casey York,[3] Playwrights Horizons encourages the new work of veteran writers while nurturing an emerging generation of theater artists. Writers are supported through every stage of their growth with a series of development programs: script and score evaluations, commissions, readings, musical theater workshops, Studio and Mainstage productions.
Playwrights Horizons was founded in 1971 at the Clark Center Y by Robert Moss, before moving to 42nd Street in 1977 where it was one of the original theaters that startedTheater Row by converting adult entertainment venues into off Broadway theaters. The current building was built on the site of a former burlesque, which previously served as the off-BroadwayMaidman Playhouse between 1960 and 1966.[4]
André Bishop served as Artistic Director from 1981 to 1991, followed byDon Scardino who served through 1995. Tim Sanford served as Artistic Director from 1996 until July 2020, serving as "outgoing Artistic Director" during the 2020-2021 season.[1]Adam Greenfield took over as Artistic Director in July 2020.[1] In 2023, Managing Director Leslie Marcus ended her 30-year tenure with the company.[3]
Playwrights Horizons has worked with over 375 writers and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. In 2005, it was among 406New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from theCarnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayorMichael Bloomberg.[5]
Playwrights Horizons' auxiliary programs include thePlaywrights Horizons Theater School, which is affiliated withNYU'sTisch School of the Arts, and Ticket Central, a central box office that supports the off-Broadway performing arts community. Designated to give undergraduate students a foundation within various fields of theater. The theater school is split between a traditional two year program, focusing on skills and techniques as a theater artist, and an advanced training program, which is meant to help students build a connection between undergraduate training and their independent careers.[6] Founded in 2010,Clubbed Thumb and Playwrights Horizons founded SuperLab, which aimed to support creative thinking by producing six new plays.[7]
In December 2025, a lawsuit was filed against Playwrights Horizon, alleging that a discount offered to patrons who identified as people of color was racially discriminatory. The plaintiff was represented by an attorney whose organization had filed 21 lawsuits in the previous two years. Playwrights Horizon issued a statement in response to the litigation, calling the lawsuit "meritless."[8]
Past productions include sevenPulitzer Prize winners:
List ofObie Awards:[16]
| Year | Category | Recipient(s) |
| 1967 | Special Citations | The Open Theatre |
| 1977 | Distinguished Productions | Eve Merriam, Tommy Tune, Kate Carmel, Cast |
| 2005 | Obie Grant | Gina Gionfriddo |
| 2007 | Obie Grant | Young Jean Lee |
| 2016 | Special Citations: Collaboration | Annie Baker (Playwright) |
| 2016 | Special Citations: Collaboration | Dominique Morisseau (Playwright) |
| 2019 | Special Citations | Clare Barron (Playwright), Lee Sunday Evans (Director) |
| 2020 | Playwriting | Michael R. Jackson |
| 2020 | Playwriting | Will Arbery |
| 2020 | Special Citation | Creative Team and Ensemble of Heroes of the Fourth Turning |
| 2020 | Special Citation | Creative Team and Ensemble of A Strange Loop |
| 2022 | Design | Reza Behjat |
| 2022 | Direction | Taylor Reynolds |
| 2023 | Design | Enver Chakartash (Costumes) |
| 2023 | Direction | Dustin Wills |
| 2023 | Playwriting | Bruce Norris |
| 2023 | Special Citations | Design Team: Kate Noll, Cha See, Haydee Zelideth Antuñano, Tei Blow,John Gasper, Nick Hussong |
| 2023 | Sustained Achievement in Directing | Pam MacKinnon |
| 2023 | Sustained Achievement in Performance | K. Todd Freeman |
| 2023 | Sustained Achievement in Performance | Shannon Tyo |
| 2024 | Special Citations | Milo Cramer, Morgan Green |
| 2024 | Sustained Achievement in Design | Jian Jung (Set) |
| 2024 | Sustained Achievement in Directing | Sarah Benson |
| 2024 | Sustained Achievement in Performance | Greg Keller |
Notable productions include:
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